William h



May 13, 1924. 1,494,098

W. H. BURK Loox Filed July 28. 1921 Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. BURR, 0F TAMPA, FLORIDA.

LOCK.

Application-med July 28, 1921. Serial No. 488,111.

To all whom t may @mme/Mi:

Be it lrnown that I, IVILLIAM HfBURK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsborough and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference be-` ing had therein tothe-accompanying draw-` ing.

This invention relates to locks. It is particularly adapted to lock the valves of in-4 ner tubes of automobile tires onto the rims of vehicle wheels when the same are in use or when carried as a spare', so that the nnauthorized removal of the tire and tube can be frustrated.

Objects of the invention are to provide a simple device which can be manufactured at a relatively small cost; one which can be attached to valves now muse; one which will be easy to apply; and one which will be positive in itsaction.

Qther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification.

In order that the invention may be readily comprehended. I have disclosedfhe same in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation ofthe device attached to a wheel; l

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross-section of a valve with which there are associated a sleeve, cap, and locking means comprising an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a. view in horizontal cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the sleeve-engaging members of the` locking mechanism;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of a modified form of construction, 6 being a sectional view taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 5; and

.Figa 7 is a view in cross-section on the line 7-7, Fig. 6.

The structure of my invention contemplates a housing-member, a swinging-member therein, means for positioning the swinging-member in relation to a valve-stem and the like, and a locking-device associated therewith and acting on the swingingmember to lock it iny position. Herein, I have disclosed two species or embodiments of the invention, both of which include the combination of elements. just set forth.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the reference-character 1desf ignates a tire-easing mounted on a rim 2 which may be fixed or demountably attached to a felly 3, in the usual manner. The tire-casing has the usual inner tube 4 provided with a valve-stem 5 fixed therein and extending through the rim and felly. The valve-stem is, as usual, threaded throughout its length and is encon'ipassed by a sleeve 6 provided with at least one flattened side 6 and secured to the rim 2. A j ain-nut 7 holds a spreader member 8 and the wall of the inner tube 4 in compressed relation against the head 9 of the valve-stem. A nut 10 is also threaded on the Valve-stem and bears against the felly to cover the hole therethroughfor the reception of the valvestem. Y

Mounted on and fitting over the valvestem is a housing-member or cap 11 for excluding dust and any foreign matter from entering the valve.

Means are provided for locking the housing-member over the valve-stem and, as herein shown,this comprises a sleeve-engaging member or finger 12, preferably elongated and provided on its inner surface with threads 13. Preferably, I associate with this member a companion sleeve-en gaging member or finger 14 and, as here shown, these members 12 and 14 are pivotally connected at 15 for relative movement toward and away from each other and in relation to the sleeve 6 which they are adapted to engage, and are also provided near their upper ends with inwardly projecting jaws or lugs 16 and 17 so that, when the members 12 and 14` are in locked position. an approximate circle is formed, a slight space or gap 18 being left where the ends of the jaws do not meet for the purpose of ie ceiving a rotatable member 19, presently to be described. r

Each of the' members 12 and 14 has a swinging movement toward and away from each other and toward and away from the. sleeve 6 to engage the threads and flattened surfaces thereof. and such relative movement is effected by the following structure:

Located in the upper end of the housingmember 11 is a barrel-element 2O forming a component of a locking-device of suitable construction. but preferably of the pin tumhier type. As here shown this 4comprises a barrel 21 rotatably mounted within sleeve 20 and provided with a keyhole. Sleeve 20 is provided with openings within which locking pins are disposed. the barrel 21 hav ing corresponding openings adapted to bring the pins into opening position when a key Q2 is inserted as shown in Fig. 6. .Associated with the barrel 2l is a rotatable member or spreading Wedge 19, above-noted, preferably elliptical in shape, which is adapted to register with the Wedge-receiving space 1S formed between the converging ends oi the. stem-engaging members. When in unlocked condition.y the spreading-member is adapted to be in a vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the upper end being disposed in the gap formed by the non-meeting ends orn the lugs. However.y when in locked condition, the spreading member is turned by the action of the key in the lock and the associated barrel and tum-blers so that the ends of the spreadingmember impinge against and exert pressure on the inwardlycurved sides of the lugs of the sleeve-engaging members until the lower threaded ends thereof are forced against the flattened and threaded surfaces of the sleeve y and thus prevent movement ot' the housingmember in any direction. This locking action holds the valve with its associated housingmember immovable against the rim or telly of the Wheel to which it is attached, so that the` inner tube cannot be deflated or the tire and tube removed from the rim by unauthorized persons.

Means are also provided for preventing the entranceiof any foreign matter into the lock through the keyhole 23 and, as here shown, this comprises a dust-excluding member or cover 24 hinged ati 25 to the upper end of the housing member and held in closed position by a spring-member 26 or the like.

Operation: The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description, and it will suiice here to state that, in applying the device, the user places the housing cap with its associated sleeve engaging` members over the sleeve 6, the screw threads on the members meshing with those on the sleeve, and the cap is rotated until it ahuts against the Wheel-telly. Then, the user inserts the key in the lock and turns the same so that the tumbler with its as- Sociated spreading Wedge-member is forced against the circular-shaped edges of the upper part of the stem-engaging members, thereby pressing the lower ends of the members tightly against the sleeve. It Will thus be apparent that the housing cannot be removed from the stem so that unauthorized persons Will be unable to remove the tire from the rim or Wheel.

Vhile I have, in the foregoing, described the preferred construction of my invention: nevertheless,` there are certain types of Wheels Where there is not suiiieienti space to permit the use of such a device. For the purpose of providing a satisfactory fastening for Wheels of this latter construction,

I have devised the locking means shown in Figs. 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. As therein revealed, the locking-device consists of a sleeve engaging-member 27 provided vvith an opening 28 therethrough to receive the sleeve. This sleeve opening is screw-threaded throughout its length in order that it may mesh with the threads on the sleeve.

:Means are also provided for housing the lock-member and, as herein shownthis comprises a lock-receiving portion 29 outstanding from the sleeve-engaging portion and provided with locking means of any usual construction, but preferably of the pin turnbler type andineluding a rota-table barrel 30 with its associated tumblers 31 meshing with groovesV in a key 32, as understood. Associated with, and pneferably formed as a. part of the barrel 30, is a swinging-mem ber 33 :naptecl` to have movement in a pas` sageway Bftformed in the `sleeve engaging portion of the lockfxnember and which impmges against the sleeve` 6 when brought into and held in that position b movement of the key 32 and its associate barrel and tumbler-mechanism. e

OperationLThe operation of this modified form ofthe `device will be understood from the for. ping description; but it may be here state that, `when .the user inserts the key in thelock and turnsthe same until the `tumbler with its associated swinging; member isbrought into` engagement wir the flattened Aaide of the sleeve 6, said swin ring-member Willeke hdd ti htly against t sleeve so that Vutngfuthcrime `removal ofthe tirwill'ltiefrustratod, I be i y d rem u `15e ein", it Wil eroeive that I have, prnvldedga simple butpeiective device for locking the valve-steml and its associated .ho'usi for dustfcap on the tire, and one which` tend. to prevent the unauthorized removal of the tire and inner tube from` the wheel. Itis to be understoodhowever,'that the embodiments of the invention hrln revealed, and `the manner of attachngthe same, are not the only embodiments and utxli'zatilspossihle or con.- templated `by myinventive concept; and even the revealed embodiments are suseeptible .of a wide range of Inodcation and variationwithout de uiting` from the sali: ent features` and yun` erlying principles of the invention.

What I claim is;

l. A lock for vehicle tires comprisingn. sleeve secured to a portion 0f avehicle Wheel and adapted to encompass a valve stem; n valve `cap adapted to encompass a portion of the sleeve andstengiv and inclosethem; alock disposed .on the cap.; locking members, pivotally connected intermediate their ends, disposed within the cap, said members having at one end a portion adapted to interlock with the sleeve; and a member connecting the lock and locking members whereby actuation of the lock will operate the locking members.

2. A lock for vehicle tires comprising a sleeve secured to a tire rim and encompassing a portion of a valve stem; a cap adapted to be placed over a portion of the stem; means for locking the cap to the sleeve when the cap is placed over a portion of the stem, said locking means including a sleeve-engaging member on the cap; a member for forcing the sleeve-engaging member into engagement with the sleeve; and a portion of the sleeve and engaging-member being threaded to effect a locking of these parts when pressed together.

3. A lock for vehicle tires comprising a sleeve secured to a tire rim and encompassing a portion of a valve stem; a cap adapted to be placed over a portion of the stem; means for locking the cap to the sleeve when the cap is placed over a portion of the stem; said locking means including a. sleeve-engaging member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a portion of the sleeve; and means :for effecting this move* ment, said means including a key and lock mechanism comprising a tumbler and cylinder operable by the key.

4. A lock for vehicle tires comprising a sleeve secured to a tire rim and encompass ing a portion of a valve stem, said sleeve having a threaded and flattened portion on a surface thereof; a cap adapted t0 be placed over a portion of the valve stem; a sleeve engaging member mounted for swinging movement into and out of engagement with the sleeve; and a locking member operably connected with the swinging member and cap.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BURK. IVitnesses:

P. BURK, E. Comas. 

